Toy



Feb. 14, 1961 F. A. Glu. 2,971,288

Toy

' Filed July 24, 1959 2 sheets-sheet 1 Feb. `14, 1961 F. A. GILL 2,971,288

TOY

Filed July 24, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 19 BVM/M ffm AHM/mrs.

United States Patent O TOY Ferdinand A. Gill, 7849 Keeler Ave., Skokie, Ill.

=Filed July 24, 1959, Ser. No. S29-,340

Claims. (Cl. '46--67) My invention relates to a toy.

A principal object of this invention is the provision for releasably holding a top at the entrance of a spiral raceway whereby when the top isrspun and released from the holding means, it will project itself along a spiral raceway provided preferably on a convex surface.

Another and equally important object of this invention is to provide on opposite sides of a disc-like member convex surfaces each having spiral raceways into which is projected a spinning top which, when it reaches approximately the end of one raceway, may be projected into the air and caught Within a spiral raceway provided on the opposite side of the member, all to the great delight and amusement of the person manipulating the toy.

Yet another and equally important object of the invention is the provision of a novel and simple arrangement for releasably holding a top to be spun at the entrance of a spiral raceway and to release the top when spun for projecting itself through the spiral raceway.

Another and equally important object of the invention is the novel and simple arrangement for spinning the top while releasably held at the entrance of a spiral raceway by a manually manipulated holding device.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings showing the preferred form of construction, and in which: l

Fig. l is a perspective view of my invention showing the manner of its manipulation;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional detail view taken substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side detail view taken substantially on line 6--6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a plan view taken substantially on line 7-7 of Fig. 2.

My improved toy comprises a disc-shaped body 10 having preferably opposite convex surfaces 11 and 12. The surface 11 has an area thereof provided with a spiral raceway 13 (Fig. 4). The surface 12 over its entire area provides a spiral raceway 14. Each of the raceways has entrances 15 and 16, respectively, the entrance 15 being closed as at 15'. At the center of the raceway 14 is an indentation 14 providing a seat for the pilot pin 33 hereinafter referred to.

The top of the body 10 which provides the surface 12 is removably connected as at 17 to the side walls 18 which define between the surfaces 11 and 12 a gear compartment 19.

'Ihe member 10 at one side thereof provides a handle 20 which is held in the hand 21' of the person manipulating the toy.

2,971,288 Patented Feb. 14, 1961 f. ICC

A holding device 21 is carried by the member 10 adjacent the entrance 16 of the spiral raceway 14. This holding device 21 includes an arm 22 extending in a horizontal plane above the surface 12. At the end of the arm 22 is a plunger 23 having a thumb button 24 at one end thereof and .at the opposite end a socket 25 surrounded by a stop flange 26. The plunger 24 is normally projected upwardly by a spring 27. A top is shown at 28. The top 28 includes a disc-like member 29 carried by a transversely extending shaft 30, one end 31 of which is adapted to fit in the socket 25. The other end of the shaft provides a pinion 32 and below the pinion 32 is a pilot pin 33.

The pinion 32 meshes with .-a pinion 34 carried by a shaft 35. On the shaft 35 within the gear compartment 19 is a pinion 36 which meshes with a gear 37 of a train of gears 38. On the shaft 39 of the gear 40 of the train of gears 38 is a hand wheel 41 which may be grooved as at `42 for reasons hereinafter set forth.

In use, the device is held by one hand by grasping the handle 20 and placing the thumb of the hand over the thumb button 24. After the top 28 is positioned with its upper portion of the shaft 31 in the socket 25 and with the pilot pin 30 disposed in a seat 16 at the entrance 16 of the raceway 12, the button 24 is manually pressed down to hold the top 28 in position for spinning by the train of gears 38. This spinning is accomplished by either one of two Ways: namely, by grasping the hand wheel 41 between the thumb and the index finger of the other hand and rapidly spinning the same so as to rapidly rotate the train of gears to impart a spinning action to the top 28; or by attaching one end of a cord or cable to the hand Wheel 41 and winding the same in the groove 42, upon the completion of which winding the cord is pulled away from the wheel 41 to rotate the same rapidly and in turn transmit through the train of gears, a spinning motion to the top 28.

While the top is in lspinning motion, the thumb is released from the button 24. The spring 27 projects the shaft 23 upwardly to release the shaft 30. The spinning top 28 under centrifugal force will be projected into and through the raceway 14. As the surface 12 is convex, the object is to spin the top sufficiently to cause it to travel through the raceway 14 to the highest point on the convex surface. During the movement of the top through the raceway 14, the player may project the top in the air, reverse the member 10 so as to dispose the raceway 13 on the top side of the device, and then attempt to catch the top as it comes down into the raceway 13 for travel to the highest point thereof.

While it is desirable from the standpoint of amusement and skill to have the surfaces 11 and 12 convex it is apparent that the surfaces may take other shapes.

My toy also affords certain other benefits, in that it exercises the eyes and develops coordination of the hand and arm muscles as well as quick reflexes. fords the maximum amusement. Its construction it simple, thereby enabling the same to be made at an economical cost. The toy may be formed of such material as will best serve the purpose, and the size of? the toy may be varied according to the manufacturers requirement.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification Without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. A device of the class described comprising a body My toy afhaving on at least one side thereof an inclined spiral raceway, the entrance to which is adjacent the peripheral edge of the body, a releasably manually operated holding device at said entrance, a spinning element tempo- Yrarily and releasably held by said device at said entrance,

and means for spinning said element While held by said holdingrdevice, said element when released by said holding device and While spinning projecting itself by centrifugal force along said raceway.

2. A device of the class described comprising a body having on atleast one side thereof an inclined spiral raceway, the entrance to which is adjacent the peripheral edge of the body, a releasably manually operated holding device carried by said body at said entrance, a spinning element temporarily and releasably held by said device at said entrance, and means for spinning said elementwhile held by said holding device, said element when released by said holding device and While spinning projecting itself by centrifugal force along said raceway.

3. A device of the class described comprising a body having 'on at least one side thereof an inclined spiral race- Way, the entrance to which is adjacent the peripheral edge of the body, a releasably 'manually operated holding device at said entrance, a spinning element temporarily and releasably held by said device at said entrance, and gear means for spinning said element While held by said hold- .ing device, said element when released by said holding device and While spinning projecting itself by centrifugal force along said raceway.

4. A device of the class described comprising va body having on at least one side thereof an inclined spiral raceway, the entrance to which is adjacent the peripheral edge of the body, a releasably manually operated holding device carried by said body at said entrance, a spinning element temporarily and releasably held by said device at said entrance, and gear means for spinning said element while held by said holding device, said element when released by said holding device and While spinning, projecting itself by centrifugal force along said raceway.

5. A device of the class described comprising a body having a convex surface on at least one side thereof, a spiral raceway on said convex surface, entrance to which raceWay is adjacent the peripheral edge of said body,

a releasably manually operated positioning member provided by said body adjacent said entrance of said race- Way for positioning a spinning element relative thereto, a spinning element temporarily and releasably held by Vsaid member at said entrance, and means for spinning said element While held by said positioning member, said element when released by said positioning member and While spinning, projecting itself'by centrifugal force along said raceway.

6. A device of the class described comprising a body having on at least one side thereof a spiral racevvay, the entrance to Which is adjacent the peripheral edge of the body, a releasably manually operated positioning member provided by said body adjacent said entrance of said raceway for positioning a spinning element relative thereto, a spinning element temporarily and releasably held by said member at said entrance, gear means for spinning said element while held by said positioning member, said element when released by said holding device 4 and while spinning projecting itself by centrifugal force along said raceway, and hand-operated means for actuating said gear means to spin said element.

7. A device of the class described comprising a body having on at least one side thereof a spiral raceway, the entrance to which is adjacent the peripheral edge of the body, a releasably manually operated positioning member provided by said body adjacent said entrance of said raceWay for positioning a spinning element relative thereto, a spinning element temporarily and releasably held by said member at said entrance, gear means for spinning said element while held by said positioning member, said element when released by said holding device and while spinning, projecting itself by centrifugal force along said raceway, and hand-operated means for actuating said gear means to spin said element.

8. A device of the class described comprising a body4 having a convex surface on at least one side thereof, a spiral raceway on said convex surface, entrance to which raceway is adjacent the peripheral edge of said body, a releasably manually operated positioning member provided by said body adjacent said entrance of said raceway for positioning a spinning element relative thereto, a spinning element temporarily and releasably held by said member at said entrance, gear means for spinning said element While held by said positioning member, Vsaid element when released by said positioning member and While spinning, projecting itself by centrifugal force along said raceway, and hand-operated means for actuating said gear means to spin said element.

9. A device of the class described comprising a body having on at least one side thereof an inclined spiral raceway, the entrance to which is adjacent the peripheral edge of the body, a spring-resisted thumb-pushed holding deviceV carried by said body in spaced relation to said surface and at said entrance, a top releasably arranged between said Vsurface and said holding device, and means for spinning said top while held by said holding device, said top when released from said holding device and While spinning, projecting itself by centrifugal force along said raceway.

10. A device of the class described comprising a disclike member having a convex surface on at least one side thereof with the surface providing a spiral raceway, the entrance to which is adjacent the peripheral edge of the body, Va holding device comprising a spring-resisted plunger carried by said body at said entrance, a top having a central shaft, the latter adapted to be disposed between said plunger and said surfacefor releasable holding by said plunger at said entrance, a pinion carried by Vsaid shaft, gear means carried by said body and including a pinion having engagement with the pinion of said shaft, and hand-operated means for actuating said gear means to spin said top, said top when released by said plunger projecting itself by centrifugal force along said race'vvay.

Sweden May 26, 1906 Great Britain Mar. l9, 1936 

